‘Jurassic World’: The Making of the Animatronic Apatosaurus

Jurassic Park may be known for revolutionizing the use of visual effects, with many of the special effects created using 3D animation for the first time, but not every dinosaur was CGI. In fact, only five key scenes of the film were made using CGI, with the rest of Jurassic Park utilizing practical effects like animatronics. Director Steven Spielberg initially objected to the idea of using computer effects for Jurassic Park. He was intent on using go-motion, a form of stop motion, for the dinosaur effects, but was eventually convinced to do otherwise by effects pioneer Dennis Muren, after showing Spielberg a short CGI test of the T-Rex.

Similar to the original, Jurassic World has some practical effects as well, although perhaps not quite as many. Many of the close-up sequences of the dinosaurs used animatronics and the like to create a more realistic feel to the creatures, giving audiences the sense that they were actually there. Director Colin Trevorrow was one of the main reasons for this, as he pushed for the crew to use real-life effects whenever possible in a time when it’s become commonplace to lean on CGI.

As Jurassic World continues to dominate the box office, a new behind-the-scenes video has been released revealing the process that visual effects studio Legacy Effects used to bring many of the dinosaurs, including the Apatosaurus, to life.

As is indicated in the video, the use of animatronics in Jurassic World certainly brought more of an emotional impact to some sequences in the movie. This is especially true in the case of the Apatosaurus sequence, which is the focus of the video above. The practical effects created a more intimate feeling in a very emotional scene, whereas if CGI had been used for the Apatosaurus, it might not have packed the same punch.

It seems audiences are starting to demand blockbusters shift focus from large CGI spectacle, as was seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, to more practical, realistic settings, as with Mad Max: Fury Road and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Perhaps a combination of the two, like with Jurassic World, is the best solution. After all, it would be awfully hard to create the Indominus Rex without computer effects to help.

What do you think, Screen Rant readers? Do you prefer CGI over practical effects, vice versa, or do you like a combination of the two? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.